Go West! Virgin and Norwegian add Long Haul West Coast services for Winter 15

If you’re going to San Francisco or Los Angeles during Winter 2015 season (yes, it maybe cold where you or where you’re going to, but airlines are planning their Winter 2015 deployments already), there will be a bit more competition .

Firstly Virgin Atlantic will adds a second daily service between London Heathrow and San Francisco, with a flight pair operated by a Boeing 747-400, and a new flight pair (VS41/42)to be operated by a Boeing 787-9.

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 at London Heathrow T3 – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.

Currently, Virgin Atlantic will operate 12 services a week during the Spring/Summer 15 timetable. This will increase operations to a twice-daily operation.

The combined timetable looks like this:

London Heathrow to San Francisco
VS019 DEPART LHR 12:20 ARRIVE SFO 15:25  Boeing 747-400
VS041 DEPART LHR 15:15 ARRIVE SFO 18:15  Boeing 787-9

San Francisco to London Heathrow
VS020 DEPART SFO 17:45 ARRIVE LHR 12:05+1 Boeing 747-400
VS042 DEPART SFO 21:45 ARRIVE LHR 16:00+1 Boeing 787-9

Winter 2015 service commences 25th October 2015
VS19/20 Operated by a Boeing 747-400
VS41/42 Operated by a Boeing 787-9
Data: Airlineroute

The London – San Francisco pair is contested British Airways, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic who offer daily services between the two cities

Meanwhile, Norwegian Air Shuttle will be increasing its services between London Gatwick and Los Angeles, taking the operation to three flights a week between the two cities.

The current two flights a week service operates Wednesdays and Sundays. This will be increased
to three times a week, with the days changed.

The new operation will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, to the following timetable:

DY7095 DEPART LGW 12:50 ARRIVE LAX 1610
DY7096 DEPART LAX 18:20 ARRIVE LGW 1250+1

DY7095/7096 operates Wednesdays and Sundys until 25th October 2015
DY7095/7096 operates Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 25th October 2015
Booked Equipment: Boeing 787-8 
Data: AirlineRoute

London to Los Angeles is a very heavily contested route, with most of the competition operating from Heathrow Airport (as opposed to Gatwick) – with Air New Zealand, American Airlines, British Airways Delta Air Line, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic all fighting for passengers.

For those who like to go west for the winter, expect some interesting fares to begin appearing soon with the new services appearing.

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